Perry Watch: Support for Rick Perry growing among Tea Party Republicans, poll finds

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and Texas Gov. Rick Perry will be courting many of the same voters in 2012 - if Perry jumps into the race. (AP Photos)

Gov. Rick Perry is gaining support from members of the Tea Party, a new by the Pew Research Center has found.

Twelve percent of poll respondents said the Texas Republican was their pick for the GOP nomination, second to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tied for the No. 3 slot among all Republicans. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, received 9 percent of the vote and businessman Herman Cain took 8 percent.

Perry’s support swelled among voters who identified as member of the Tea Party. Sixteen percent of Tea Party voters support Perry for the GOP nomination – the same percent that supported Romney. Bachmann received 14 percent of the vote and Palin and Cain both received 12 percent. Paul garnered 9 percent of the votes.

The bigger news for Perry? Those who support him are giving heavy thought to this election, which means they are more likely to come to the polls. Among all Republicans who said Perry was their candidate of choice, 22 percent have given ” a lot” of thought to 2012. Of the Tea Partiers who want Perry to clinch the nomination, 29 percent are heavily thinking about the election.This is the highest percentage in both categories of any of the candidates.

Just 15 percent of Republicans who support Romney and 13 percent of Bachmann backers are heavily thinking about the election, the poll found. The enthusiasm among Perry’s voters could give him a boost in the field if these poll numbers hold true.

The Pew poll also found that President Barack Obama’s support is dipping among key independent voters. Only 31 percent of independent voters would prefer Obama is reelected over a generic Republican, down from 40 percent in March. The president fares fairly better with all registered voters – 41 percent prefer his reelection to the election of a Republican. These numbers are also down from March when 47 percent of all registered voters wanted Obama to take on a second term.